WHO MAKES THE BEST CHINESE HYBRID?

There's a tidal wave of Chinese SUVs hitting our shores, but are they any good? We test five new hybrid models to find out:

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IF you find yourself sitting in traffic or travelling down the motorway this week, take a look around you. What do you see? Chances are, there will be a handful of cars you barely recognise, from manufacturers and makers you've possibly never heard of. The Chinese automotive invasion is in full swing – and British roads are living proof of it.

It’s quite unlike anything we've experienced before. When the Japanese started making inroads to the UK back in the sixties, the size of the new-car market was a fraction of what it is today. The Koreans came in the eighties and nineties, but it was decades before anyone took them seriously; the class-leading Hyundais and Kias we drive today are a far cry from the cars that brought the brands to Britain all those years ago.

But with the onslaught of electrification gathering momentum - hybrid, plugin hybrid and full-EV accounted for more than half the market in September - buyers are at a crossroads. Many are asking whether now's the time to part ways with Peugeot, say 'au revoir' to Renault, or veto their Vauxhall. Some may even be ready to turn their back on Europe's big premium players.

But is there more to these state-backed SUVs than a temptingly low list price? Should they warrant your attention, and can they hold a candle to a car industry that has been operating without a new threat for the best part of three decades?

To find out, we've pulled together five Chinese hybrid newcomers to pick apart every key consideration that a potential buyer might face. We'll look at things like efficiency, practicality, kit and quality, as well as what they're like to drive, plus the most important point of all: value for money.

We've covered the infiltration of China in Europe fairly extensively; of the five brands here, only MG had a presence in the UK three years ago - and just one of the maker's lineup then still exists today.